Motorists who do not wish to use ethanol-blended petrol can opt for 100 per cent petrol, but they will have to pay a higher price, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said, reiterating his support for alternative fuels to reduce vehicular pollution and India's oil import bill.
"People who do not want ethanol-blended fuel can go for 100% petrol, but they will have to pay more," Gadkari said in an interview to the Times of India.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the impact of ethanol-blended fuel on vehicle mileage and engine performance, with Opposition parties criticising the government's ethanol-blending programme.
Dismissing the concerns, Gadkari alleged that the criticism was politically motivated.
"Certain people are targeting me and govt. There is also misinformation about E20 fuel damaging engines. All E10-compliant vehicles are fit for using E20 fuel. There have been no complaints so far about the fuel damaging engine," he said.
Last week, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas acknowledged that E20 fuel could reduce mileage by up to 5 per cent in some vehicles. However, it said the marginal drop in fuel efficiency is outweighed by benefits such as lower life-cycle carbon emissions.
The ministry described E20 as a "cleaner, higher-quality and more efficient fuel" than E10 or pure petrol, adding that its rollout followed years of scientific testing, consultations with automobile manufacturers, and the expansion of the country's ethanol supply chain.
Reiterating his long-standing support for cleaner fuels, Gadkari said alternative fuels are essential for tackling air pollution.
"I am a strong believer in alternative fuels, whether it is ethanol blended petrol, electric vehicles, methanol or hydrogen — all cleaner options that will reduce pollution, especially in a city like Delhi, where vehicles contribute up to 40 per cent of air pollution," he said.
Gadkari also rejected allegations that his family had benefited from the ethanol-blending programme, saying his sons' businesses have only a marginal presence in the sector.
"I have no influence over it. Ethanol is just 10 per cent of the business and the factories run by my sons have less than 0.5 per cent share of the ethanol business in the country. The companies have a debt of Rs 1,600 crore. Lot of lies are being spread," he told TOI.
The government has previously said the ethanol-blending programme has strengthened the sugar economy, increased farmers' incomes and helped India save more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15 by reducing crude oil imports.
Food Ministry Joint Secretary Ashwani Srivastava recently said ethanol has become central to India's agricultural economy by creating new markets for surplus crops while reducing the country's dependence on imported crude oil.
